Andrea Fortuin
Orenda Yoga & healing arts director/founder Yoga Instructor, Reiki Master & Practitioner ,
Complementary/Alternative Therapies Consultant
info@orendayoga.org
Andrea has studied healing arts for many years. Introduced formally to Yoga while expecting
her first child, she has now been a student of Yoga for over 20 years. Increasingly she had been
asked to share her knowledge, which led to a teaching practice. In 2000 she earned a certificate in
Complementary and Alternative Therapies from Maria College. While there she received extensive
training in the chakras, meditation, guided imagery, theology and spirituality, as well as many
other biological and body based therapies. Through December of 2003 Andrea taught classes at
TheCenter for Natural Wellness in Guilderland, at her home studio, and in the BKW school
district. In January of 2004 she opened Orenda Yoga & healing arts , where she continues her
healing work.
Christine Carpenter
Director of Childrens programming at OrendaYoga
Christine has danced and practiced yoga for the past 15 years. Christine draws from these
experiences, plus those as a parent, writer and environmental educator, to adapt and teach yoga
that meets the needs of children from preschool through the teenage years. She also teaches
workshops for children and for adults that focus on yoga as a tool to de-stress and energize in
school and in the workplace. She is a Radiant Child Yoga Program (RCYP) level II instructor and
holds a masters degree in elementary education.
Laurel Tormey Cole
Yoga Instructor, Educator, Naturalist
As a practitioner of Om Yoga and Iyengar Yoga, Laurel began studying yoga over 16 years ago.
She brings to the studio her own healing experiences of strengthening her damaged knees and a “bad
back”, along with alleviating migraine headaches. Her focus is on coordination of breath with
movement and proper alignment. Through the use of supportive props those experiencing
restricted movement can experience the benefits of a pose (asana) without strain. She is passionate
about yoga and loves to share this with others. As a naturalist and Backyard Habitat Specialist she
also brings many healing elements to the natural world.
Richard Shultz
Yoga Instructor
Richard has studied Iyengar Yoga with several prominent teachers in India. He has also studied at
and employs techniques from the Vivekananda Yoga Institute (VYASA) in Bangalore. Richard is a
certified yoga instructor and is registered with Yoga Alliance at the 200 hour level (RYT 200). Last
year He spent 9 months in India studying Ashtanga Yoga, then moved to Malysis where he
currently resides and is teaching up to 17 classes weekly. The Orenda Yoga Studio is Richards
American home studio and on his return will be scheduling classes and workshops
Renee Van Kuren
Licensed Massage Therapist , Reiki Master
Renee is a NYS licensed massage therapist and Reiki Master. She received her training from the
Center for Natural Wellness in Albany. Renee has logged many hours of community service, to
include volunteering with Community Caregivers. She spent 15 years as a wholesale jeweler before
a career change to the healing arts. Renee lives with her 3 children in New Scotland where she also
operates Stone Cottage Massage.
James Danoff-Burg
Yoga Instructor, Conservation Biologist, and Triathlete
James is an enthusiastic advocate for the integrated wellness of humans and the environment in
which they live. He first began practicing yoga seven years ago to deal with chronic back and joint
pain and quickly became so enamored of it that he studied and became certified as a yoga
instructor five years ago. He teaches in the Viniyoga style of yoga, a type of yoga that integrates
aspects of both Iyengar (through the focus on the core components of each posture form) and
Ashtanga (its emphasis on flow series). Viniyoga playfully modifies the asanas so that they are
appropriate for each person by taking into account joint tightness, skeletal differences, and body
type to make even the most challenging yoga postures fun. He credits yoga with making it
possible for him to do Ironman length triathlons and to continue to play volleyball with abandon,
and wishes to share with you ways to integrate this wonderful tool into your life and thereby
enable you to improve your environment.
Mary Beth Clancy-Halayko
Infant Massage, Reiki practitioner
Mary Beth Clancy-Halayko is a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist also trained by International
Association of Infant Massage to teach massage and bonding techniques to parent, grandparents,
siblings, caregivers and all those interested in developing a lasting, loving bond with their infant.
Mary Beth is owner of Massage To You, a practice that offers professionals, seniors and stay at
home moms relaxing massage therapy in the comfort and convenience of their own home or office.
She also works on several sports teams, athletes and professional groups in the Capital District.
Her volunteer projects include working with young and underprivileged new parents to teach them
the value and benefits of infant massage and several children's charities in the area.
Katie Deming
Yoga Instructor, Equestrian
Katie is a young , dynamic yoga instructor who loves to work with athletes of all sports. Katie
has developed an athlete specic class for students who are interested in cross training , and/or
adding yoga to their training routine.
Margaret Bunkhoff
Dancer, Nature lover , Belly Dance Instructor
Orenda Yoga & healing arts director/founder Yoga Instructor, Reiki Master & Practitioner ,
Complementary/Alternative Therapies Consultant
info@orendayoga.org
Andrea has studied healing arts for many years. Introduced formally to Yoga while expecting
her first child, she has now been a student of Yoga for over 20 years. Increasingly she had been
asked to share her knowledge, which led to a teaching practice. In 2000 she earned a certificate in
Complementary and Alternative Therapies from Maria College. While there she received extensive
training in the chakras, meditation, guided imagery, theology and spirituality, as well as many
other biological and body based therapies. Through December of 2003 Andrea taught classes at
TheCenter for Natural Wellness in Guilderland, at her home studio, and in the BKW school
district. In January of 2004 she opened Orenda Yoga & healing arts , where she continues her
healing work.
Christine Carpenter
Director of Childrens programming at OrendaYoga
Christine has danced and practiced yoga for the past 15 years. Christine draws from these
experiences, plus those as a parent, writer and environmental educator, to adapt and teach yoga
that meets the needs of children from preschool through the teenage years. She also teaches
workshops for children and for adults that focus on yoga as a tool to de-stress and energize in
school and in the workplace. She is a Radiant Child Yoga Program (RCYP) level II instructor and
holds a masters degree in elementary education.
Laurel Tormey Cole
Yoga Instructor, Educator, Naturalist
As a practitioner of Om Yoga and Iyengar Yoga, Laurel began studying yoga over 16 years ago.
She brings to the studio her own healing experiences of strengthening her damaged knees and a “bad
back”, along with alleviating migraine headaches. Her focus is on coordination of breath with
movement and proper alignment. Through the use of supportive props those experiencing
restricted movement can experience the benefits of a pose (asana) without strain. She is passionate
about yoga and loves to share this with others. As a naturalist and Backyard Habitat Specialist she
also brings many healing elements to the natural world.
Richard Shultz
Yoga Instructor
Richard has studied Iyengar Yoga with several prominent teachers in India. He has also studied at
and employs techniques from the Vivekananda Yoga Institute (VYASA) in Bangalore. Richard is a
certified yoga instructor and is registered with Yoga Alliance at the 200 hour level (RYT 200). Last
year He spent 9 months in India studying Ashtanga Yoga, then moved to Malysis where he
currently resides and is teaching up to 17 classes weekly. The Orenda Yoga Studio is Richards
American home studio and on his return will be scheduling classes and workshops
Renee Van Kuren
Licensed Massage Therapist , Reiki Master
Renee is a NYS licensed massage therapist and Reiki Master. She received her training from the
Center for Natural Wellness in Albany. Renee has logged many hours of community service, to
include volunteering with Community Caregivers. She spent 15 years as a wholesale jeweler before
a career change to the healing arts. Renee lives with her 3 children in New Scotland where she also
operates Stone Cottage Massage.
James Danoff-Burg
Yoga Instructor, Conservation Biologist, and Triathlete
James is an enthusiastic advocate for the integrated wellness of humans and the environment in
which they live. He first began practicing yoga seven years ago to deal with chronic back and joint
pain and quickly became so enamored of it that he studied and became certified as a yoga
instructor five years ago. He teaches in the Viniyoga style of yoga, a type of yoga that integrates
aspects of both Iyengar (through the focus on the core components of each posture form) and
Ashtanga (its emphasis on flow series). Viniyoga playfully modifies the asanas so that they are
appropriate for each person by taking into account joint tightness, skeletal differences, and body
type to make even the most challenging yoga postures fun. He credits yoga with making it
possible for him to do Ironman length triathlons and to continue to play volleyball with abandon,
and wishes to share with you ways to integrate this wonderful tool into your life and thereby
enable you to improve your environment.
Mary Beth Clancy-Halayko
Infant Massage, Reiki practitioner
Mary Beth Clancy-Halayko is a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist also trained by International
Association of Infant Massage to teach massage and bonding techniques to parent, grandparents,
siblings, caregivers and all those interested in developing a lasting, loving bond with their infant.
Mary Beth is owner of Massage To You, a practice that offers professionals, seniors and stay at
home moms relaxing massage therapy in the comfort and convenience of their own home or office.
She also works on several sports teams, athletes and professional groups in the Capital District.
Her volunteer projects include working with young and underprivileged new parents to teach them
the value and benefits of infant massage and several children's charities in the area.
Katie Deming
Yoga Instructor, Equestrian
Katie is a young , dynamic yoga instructor who loves to work with athletes of all sports. Katie
has developed an athlete specic class for students who are interested in cross training , and/or
adding yoga to their training routine.
Margaret Bunkhoff
Dancer, Nature lover , Belly Dance Instructor
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